Escorted tours to Italy

Artstur Tours in 2017 - 2018:

In the Footsteps of Caravaggio (1571 – 1610)Dates: 8 – 14 May 2018
Destination: Malta & Sicily
Description: This Tour covers Caravaggio’s last years in Malta and Sicily, two of his most famous periods. He was at first feted and welcomed by the Knights of Malta in the island’s capital “Valletta” which will be European Capital of Culture in 2018.

Ravenna under the StarsDates: 15 – 18 June 2018
Destination: Ravenna, Italy
Description: Ravenna is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. It was the capital of the Roman Empire of the West from 402AD until the collapse of the Empire in 476AD
It served as the capital of the Roman Empire of the west (Byzantine) until the invasion of the Lombards in 751AD, when it became the seat of the kingdom of the Lombards. During the Ravenna Festival the city bursts into light with the stars above and the Byzantine cathedrals and churches hosting a series of concerts. Their glorious mosaics are illuminated and create a magical light ranging from gold through the colours of the rainbow and provide an unforgettable background to the music.

A Visit to Calabria Ionica:
The Hidden Jewel Of ItalyDates: 12 - 19 September 2018
Destination: Calabria, Italy
Description: In the words of the Italian writer Guido Piovene in his ‘Viaggo in Italia’, Calabria is certainly the strangest of Italian regions. Among the vast extent of its mountains one almost thinks of not being in the South of Italy but in the Alps or Scandinavia. Starting from the delightful capital of the Region ‘Reggio Calabria’ home to the Bronzes of Riace in the Archeological Museum we travel from the Tyrrhenian mountainous peaks plunge down to the violet blue sea. This extensive coast includes places like Riace, where the bronzes miraculously appeared only 50 years ago, Monasterace, Stilo, Locri, Soverato, Squillace, Crotone and finally Capo Colonna. On this enchanted coast under its protective mountainous creeks we will visit their secrets from the archeological parks to the Byzantinian monasteries, Swabian Castles, Palaces and Churches and the fun-loving towns on the coast.

Verdi’s Trilogy and Renaissance StudiesDates: 20 - 23 September 2018
Destination: Florence, Italy
Description: Our visit to Florence provides the opportunity to unveil the art of the Renaissance in the city that invented this extraordinary explosion of Art and Culture.

Artstur arranges a variety of 4 or 5 day tours to Italy. These are small group tours and the objective of each tour is to appreciate the art and culture of the country in a way that allows the visitor to enjoy the history and current way of life in Italy. Italy’s beauty and Joie de vivre are captured in our tours and lift the spirits of all those in the group.

The guides are all English speaking art historians or archeologists who know and love the places visited. Their enthusiasm is quickly transmitted to those attending.